Mad dash! The annual running of the bulls begins in Pamplona

A general view of Estafeta street crowded with runners or 'mozos', prior to the first bull run of the Sanfermines 2012 in Pamplona, northern Spain, July 7. Sanfermines is a week-long festival celebrated to honor San Fermin, the town's patron saint.

Daniel Ochoa De Olza / AP

A reveler is tossed by a Dolores Aguirre Yabarra ranch fighting bull during the running of the bulls of the San Fermin festival, in Pamplona Spain, July 7.

Joseba Etxaburu / Reuters

Revellers taunt a fighting cow in the Plaza de Toros following the first running of the bulls of the San Fermin festival in Pamplona July 7.

Joseba Etxaburu / Reuters

A fighting cow leaps over bull runners in the Plaza de Toros following the first running of the bulls of the San Fermin festival in Pamplona July 7. After the bull run, runners remain in the bullring and small fighting cows are released.

Daniel Ochoa De Olza / AP

Revelers kiss in the early morning, during the San Fermin festival, in Pamplona Spain, July 7.

The San Fermin running of the bulls festival became world famous with the publication of Ernest Hemingway's 1926 novel "The Sun Also Rises." It is also known around the world for its wild all-night street parties which commemorate the city's patron saint. Today was the first running of the bulls for this year's festivities and six people were injured in a race that lasted 2 minutes, 53 seconds.